Bridging the gap between on-farm school leavers and the job market
Farmer's Weekly|5+12 April 2024
Brian Berkman reports that a chain of upmarket hotels is talent-scouting in the agriculture sector, looking for school leavers with the potential to train for exciting positions in the hospitality industry and tourism.
Brian Berkman
Bridging the gap between on-farm school leavers and the job market

Innovative thinking and action during the COVID lockdown allowed The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel, in Sea Point, Cape Town, to thrive during the pandemic when many other hotels were shuttered and laid-off staff.

Art of Creation, the name for the business unit that sits at the heart of Dream Hotels & Resorts’ operations, aims to ensure it staff are taken care of while steering the business forward with impactful projects. 

Art of Creation is led by Chris Godenir, long-time custodian of The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel.

Godenir came up with out-of-the-box solutions during the COVID pandemic which included the hotel offering maintenance and laundry services to the Sea Point community as well as a meal-collection service. When the initial restrictions were relaxed a little, he made hotel rooms available for day use for people who wanted to work away from home while their offices remained shut.

SUCCESS DURING COVID 

September 2020 produced a greater income than September the previous year, which was before COVID, and made the hotel’s staff and shareholders very happy. While other businesses retrenched staff, Godenir found tasks and profitable things for hotel staff to do.

While continuing to oversee management of The Peninsula, Godenir is working with Dream Hotel & Resorts of which The Peninsula is a part, spearheading their Art of Creation initiative.

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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Farmer's Weekly

New farmers' seedling pitfalls

Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead

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2 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
South African avocado production: a success story
Farmer's Weekly

South African avocado production: a success story

Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.

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6 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Farmer's Weekly

Unlocking value through livestock exports

Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.

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7 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
Farmer's Weekly

An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment

For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.

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5 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Farmer's Weekly

Empowering dreams, transforming lives

Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.

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7 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
Farmer's Weekly

Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal

South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities

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5 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
Farmer's Weekly

The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture

While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation

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3 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Farmer's Weekly

Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling

Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.

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2 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
Tips for better olive production
Farmer's Weekly

Tips for better olive production

At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.

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3 mins  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
Farmer's Weekly

More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah

On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.

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1 min  |
Farmer's Weekly 27 December 2024